The Trustee Candidate Advisory Council (TCAC) is currently accepting applications for four positions on the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees. Appointments to the positions will be made by Governor Tim Pawlenty in April. Candidates for the positions should apply to the council before February 17, 2006.

The Board of Trustees oversees a total of 32 state colleges and universities. Actions of the board affect the 370,000 students that the system serves each year, the system's 16,500 employees, and an annual budget of $1.5 billion.

The Minnesota State system is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees. The council is currently seeking candidates to fill four open seats; these seats are designated as one 5th Congressional District position, one 6th Congressional District position, and two at-large positions. The terms are six years in length. Applications for the positions are being accepted by the Trustee Candidate Advisory Council. Established by the Legislature, the purpose of the TCAC is to screen applications, conduct interviews, and recommend the finalists to the Governor. Candidate recommendations are due to the Governor by April 15.

The Minnesota State system's Board of Trustees provides leadership in such areas as academic programs, fiscal management, personnel, admissions requirements, tuition and fees, and rules and regulations. The board also appoints the chancellor, who serves as chief executive officer of the system.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Application materials are available on the council's Web site at: www.tcac.leg.mn. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may request an application packet by contacting Sandy Keene at 651-296-9002 or sandy.keene@lcc.leg.mn . The TCAC Chair is Kent Eklund of St. Paul, MN 612-672-7784. The council office is located at: